Understanding Google Apps for Managed Service Providers

Yes, Google is now reaching out to MSPs, IT consultants and integrators. This video, forwarded to The VAR Guy (our guest blogger) by Virus Woman (a.k.a. Crisantos Hajibrahim), describes Google's SaaS strategy for MSPs and channel partners.

Yes, Google is now reaching out to MSPs, IT consultants and integrators. This video, forwarded to The VAR Guy (our guest blogger) by Virus Woman (a.k.a. Crisantos Hajibrahim), describes Google's SaaS strategy for MSPs and channel partners.

So, are you willing to build applications based on Google Apps? Before you answer, consider the following thoughts.

There's an old saying: Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Whether you consider Google a friend or foe in the MSP/SaaS space, you'd be wise to thoroughly investigate the search giant's on-demand software strategy.

Ingram Micro and dozens of MSPs are already hosting on-demand Microsoft applications (Dynamics, Exchange and SharePoint). The VAR Guy expects a similar trend to happen with Google, as MSPs begin to write extensions to Google's online applications.

Our guest blogger isn't sure how Google's strategy will play out, but ignoring the company's SaaS strategy certainly doesn't seem to be an option for smart MSPs.

2 comments

I don’t consider Google an enemy but I’m also not convinced that they understand how to partner in the channel. Do they have a channel sales organization? Co-marketing dollars for MSPs? Other program services?

Danny: Those are all great questions. We’re actually reaching out to GOOG on some of these very issues. That’s a cowardly way to say that i don’t have all the answers right now, but we’re working on gathering them for you. Let me know what other Q’s you have.
-jp

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